December Events at The Museum of Flight

Wells Fargo Free First Thursday
Thursday, Dec. 3, 5 - 9 p.m.
Once a month, the Museum stays open late-and admission is free! Enjoy the Museum's Great Gallery, Personal Courage Wing, Space: Exploring the New Frontier exhibit, and the new Amelia Earhart exhibit, In Search of Amelia Earhart. Also enjoy the flight simulators and more from 5 - 9 p.m., courtesy of Wells Fargo. Museum Store and Wings Café will also remain open for the extended hours on this night.

Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop: 21st Century Airships
Saturdays and Sundays
Dec. 5, 6, 19, 20; 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Overshadowed by the airplane, the airship-a rigid or semi-rigid balloon, powered by engines-has a colorful history. Learn about these fascinating machines and the new airship designs for the 21st century. Then design your own airship!

Great Arctic Air Adventure, Back By Popular Demand
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2:00 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
During the summer of 2008, Seattle pilots Doug DeVries and Mark Schoening assumed the controls of their De Havilland Beaver floatplanes and departed Lake Washington for a 10,000- mile circumnavigation of Canada. The 45-day "Great Arctic Air Adventure" took them to the some of the most remote places on Earth; and along the way they met some remarkable people. The two adventurers detailed their trip during an immensely popular program at the Museum in February, 2009. DeVries and Schoening will return with another look at the adventure with stunning photos and film clips shown on the theater's big screen. An audience question and answer session follows the program.

Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop: Wright Spirit
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 12 - 13; 11:15 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
They are the most famous brothers in the history of aviation: Wilbur and Orville Wright - inventors of the airplane. Learn how they solved the problem of controllable flight. Then make a model of one of their aircraft designs!

American Fighter Aces Program - Air War Over Europe and the Pacific
Saturday, Dec. 12, 2 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
A U.S. Navy aviator and a U.S. Air Force pilot will share their stories about World War II air combat in the Pacific and European theaters of war. An audience question and answer session follows the program. Panelists include: Navy Cmdr. Ralph E. Foltz was credited with five aerial victories, including two Japanese dive bombers in the famous "Marianas Turkey Shoot." Air Force Capt. Everett "Bud" Miller flew 53 combat missions over Europe, and was credited with five aerial victories. Miller was also one of nine test pilots to fly America's first military jet aircraft, the Bell XP-59A Airacomet.

Tip-to-Tail Tour: 1903 Wright Flyer
Thursday, Dec. 17, 11 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Docent Jerry Swearingen, whose great uncle, Charles Furnas, was the first airplane passenger in 1908, will lead visitors through a tip-to-tail tour of the Museum's replica Wright Flyer, one of only three in the United States.

Fighter Performance and Technology During the First World War
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronauts Lecture by Dr. Scott Eberhardt
Saturday, Dec. 19, 2:00 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
Aviation author and University of Washington professor Dr. Scott Eberhardt looks at the performance and technology of the World War I fighter aircraft in the Museum's J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing. Eberhardt will also discuss fighter tactics developed during World War I. The program shows why certain planes of the period were more successful than others. Climb and turn performance of these airplanes are compared, and the tactics they fostered will be discussed.

Bank of America Weekend Family Workshop: Winter Break Blast-off
December 26 - 31, Noon - 3p.m.
Glider, helicopter or rocket - what will it be? Join us for our daily aviation-themed activities during the holiday break.

Seattle's Commercial Aviation 1908 - 1941
Saturday, Dec. 26, 2:00 p.m., William M. Allen Theater
Seattle was a hub of aviation long before it became "JetCity." Seattle authors Ed Davies and Steve Ellis present a program based upon their new book, "Seattle Commercial Aviation 1908 - 1941." The program draws from hundreds of photographs gathered for the book, which illustrates the early days beginning with dirigible flights, the first Seattle aircraft builders, the arrival of commercial airmail and the airlines. Book signing follows the program.

Tip-to-Tail Tour: Blackbird
Sat., Dec. 26 at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Museum's M-21 Blackbird is unique. The history of this plane and others in the Blackbird family of Mach 3 aircraft are explained by a docent during this tip-to-tail tour.